Buying A Gaming desktop

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JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#112524 11-Dec-2012 19:01

Hi
(I'm not sure if this is the right forum page but it is still related to gaming.)
I am going to upgrade my desktop which is really crap right now (The video card in particular)
This includes new motherboard, new cpu, new psu, new gpu, and new ram.
So far, I have found a good website and selected some good components.
The specs are:
Cpu: i5 3330 quad core

Gpu: Galaxy geforce gtx 650 smart edition 1.5gb
http://www.pbtech.co(dot)nz/index.php?z=p&p=CPUIT3331
http://www.elive.co(dot)nz/galaxy-geforce-gtx560-1536mb-video-AC02983.php
Psu: Antec 450 strictly power supply
http://www.elive.co(dot)nz/antec-450w-strictly-power-supply-AC03000.php
Ram: 2x4gb ddr3 off trademe
(http://www.trademe.co(dot)nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?sort_order=buynow_asc&cid=4245&searchType=&searchString=4gb+ddr3&x=0&y=0&searchregion=100&type=Search&redirectFromAll=False&rptpath=all&generalSearch_keypresses=12&generalSearch_suggested=0)
And holding it all together, Motherboard: Asus P8H61-MX R2.0
http://www.elive.co(Dot)nz/asus-p8h61-mx-r2-motherboard-SY05173.php
The total cost for these are 501 dollars.
My budget is $500-600
I don't need a case as I already have one.
If you can find any better parts without blowing my budget, i'd be happy to change them.
Thanks in advance.

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#730807 11-Dec-2012 21:06

After a bad experience with an Asus P5B-VM where the onboard graphics ran hot (known issue) even when disabled I will never again buy a board with onboard graphics when it is not needed. For most uses it will make no difference, but in future I will save the watts for doing something useful. Ok, I feel better now...

nakedmolerat

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#730840 11-Dec-2012 21:50

Post this at computerlounge.co.nz forum. Revo should be able to give you good deal.

JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#733005 15-Dec-2012 23:20

Thanks, but elive is better.
Anyone else gonna help?

Kyanar

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#733052 16-Dec-2012 09:21

I'd suggest you up that PSU. That graphics card alone will pull some heavy wattage, and any more than 2 drives (optical, SSD, spinning platter) and you're going to pretty much be at the limit of the supply, at which point you'll start to experience some pretty horrific instability (blue screens, etc).

I'd say 550W at least - highly recommend a "modular" power supply.

Skillie

192 posts

Master Geek

#733054 16-Dec-2012 09:23

Consider this upgrade kit from PC Online Shop:-

1x Intel Core i5 3470 CPU / 1x Asus P8H77-M LE Motherboard / 1x Kingston 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3-1600 DIMMs @ $470.60 (excluding freight and GST).

http://pconlineshop.co.nz/pcshop/product_info.php?products_id=389282&RBTid=fb457a557ac0c5ac123bd0fceb90038b

Also, some other video cards to compare:-

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

And finally, other build configurations:-

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/do-it-yourself-build-computer,3374.html

Bituser

26 posts

Geek

#733420 17-Dec-2012 10:26

nakedmolerat: Post this at computerlounge.co.nz forum. Revo should be able to give you good deal.

I second this. I buy everything from computer lounge. It'll be a hassle getting components from all over the place and you might end up paying for it in the shipping. Head over to computer lounge and they'll set you up with the perfect PC.

JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#734641 18-Dec-2012 23:09

Aughhh....
Computer lounge doesn't seem good at all.
And Now my budget is down to $4oo as i found a better netbook then the current one i am thinking to purchase for $100 extra.
Well, any cpu or gpu or possibly even psu upgrades you guys can recommend?

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JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#734652 19-Dec-2012 00:08

Dang it! I just figured out the minimum the current parts cost is about $700!
Now i need help lowering everything BUT the graphics card.

Bituser

26 posts

Geek

#734786 19-Dec-2012 10:11

Hi,

I'm afraid I don't think it is Computer Lounge's problem at all. I think you may have under estimated the true cost of a computer. It doesn't help the matter that you are trying to purchase parts for a gaming PC. Personally I wouldn't be expecting much from your budget. I'd either raise the budget, remove the netbook or just build a standard desktop PC. That GPU itself will take a large chunk of the budget, that will result in you purchasing cheap parts for the rest of the PC putting the entire computer at risk.

JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#736431 22-Dec-2012 21:23

Well, with a bit of consideration, here are the price of parts:
Cpu: Intel 3rd Genration I5-3330 @ 3.0ghz $256.45 from pbtech
Gpu (the best part): Galaxy Geforce GTX560 smart edition 1.5gb $192.28 from alpha city
Psu: Aywun A1-107 Black Micro ATX case with 500W PSU $57.60 from elive
Ram: Kingston 4gb ddr3 1600mhz x2 $28.88 each from alpha city
Morherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H $69.78 from it xpress (surprisingly cheap)
Hard Drive (If needed): Western Digital 1tb Sata3 64mb Cache (model WD10EZRX) $114.50 from elive

I've done the math, the total: $633.87 without Hard drive, $748.37 With Hard Drive

The netbook is a Acer Aspire One D270-26Dkk for $421 at alpha city (they have pretty good prices) With:
Intel? Atom? Processor Dual-Core N2600B 1.6ghz
1GB DDR3 SDRAM (I will upgrade to 2gb if possible)
Intel GMA 3600 64mb
320GB Hard Drive
The total cost: $1054.87 (sorry if you were working all this out)

A tiny bit over budget, but it will be oretty good.

Krishant007

1403 posts

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#736432 22-Dec-2012 21:35

swap the i5 processor for an i3 2330 processor. I think you can pick that up for 169 or less. It is a very good CPU.

For graphics, the Nvidia GTX560 is definitly is good. But take a look at AMD 7770. I think that might do you well. And it is quite cheap as well. I highly recommend not skimping out on the PSU. Get a decent quality PSU. The cheaper ones could possibly fry the motherboard and components. I dont think you would want to take that risk.

JustAnotherMCer

36 posts

Geek

#736538 23-Dec-2012 12:07

Hmmm....
Nope, still sticking with a quad core.
The amd 7770 is more expensive than the current gpu on the list, and worse.
I might as well get a better PSU, but how big one will i need?

nakedmolerat

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#736539 23-Dec-2012 12:12

JustAnotherMCer: Hmmm....
Nope, still sticking with a quad core.
The amd 7770 is more expensive than the current gpu on the list, and worse.
I might as well get a better PSU, but how big one will i need?

At least 650watt (minimum). As mentioned above, I would definitely put extra money for a good PSU (I use corsair).

Krishant007

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#736540 23-Dec-2012 12:22

550W is usually more than enough for a build with a single GPU. GPU usually take the most power.

I think the 560GTX takes about 135W or something. The i5 would take about 70-80W (these are the max values btw, not average). Each harddrive takes a max of 30W - same for disc drives.

So 550W should be fine for most builds I reckon. Unless you planning to go SLI in the future, dont waste money getting more Watts, spend it getting a more efficient PSU - like a Gold standard one.

I use FSP Group Aurum 550W. Very good and really good quality power supply.

Other good ones are Corsair and Seasonic. CoolerMaster is also quite decent.

Getting a more efficient PSU would be a good idea. Gold standard has up to 90% efficiency. Bronze has I think 80 or 85%. I cant remember exactly.

Kyanar

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#736542 23-Dec-2012 12:45

I still highly recommend a modular power supply if possible - that way you don't have so much cable mess permeating the case (should get you slightly better airflow too!)

550 will be fine as Krishant says for that spec - but if you expect that you'll be adding much more later (e.g. USB peripherals, extra graphics cards, more than a few fans) you might want to move up to a 600W to ensure you have some buffer room.

Remember- USB devices count towards the total (they draw a couple of watts max), as do the internal fans (usually 1.5-2W each, more if it's a fancy Cooler Master type fan with a control panel and LED and suchlike).

Also, in my experience, Gigabyte is terrible for motherboards. After RMAing three Gigabyte motherboards in a row I swore I'd never by their mobos again.

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